He loves me he loves me not

Posted by ESC on March 06, 2000

In Reply to: He loves me he loves me not posted by angela on March 06, 2000

: I think I have found where this thing originated but I have to get a few more sources to be correct....anyone know???

"American Children's Folklore" by Simon J. Bronner (August House Inc., Little Rock, 1988) under "Beliefs and Customs" says: "To find out how a certain person feels about you, repeat the phrase "He loves me, he loves me not" as you pluck the petals of a daisy. If you take the gold center from the daisy and throw it up in the air, the number of pieces that fall on the back of your hand as you hold it out tells the number of children that you will have." The FTD site online (2/13/00) says loves me/loves me not is a Victorian custom and elaborates further. On the daisy. Origin & History The daisy derived its English name from the Anglo-Saxon term daes eage, or "day's eye," referring to the way this flower opens and closes with the sun. Sentiment & Symbolism Primarily known as the symbol of childhood innocence, this charming wildflower is said to originate from a Dryad who presided over forests, meadows, and pastures. According to Roman mythological legend, the nymph Belides, as she danced with the other nymphs at the edge of the forest, caught the eye of Vertumnus, the god of the orchards. To escape his unwanted attention, she transformed herself into the flower bellis, which is the daisy's botanical name.